ST U D Y G U I D E F O R E X A M 3

M ASS-SPR I N G-D A M P E R M O D E LS, L A P L A C E

1. Suppose a 4-lb weight stretches a spring 6 inches beyond its natural length. An
external force equal to 12 cos 8t is acting on the spring. If the weight is started in
motion from its equilibrium position with an upward velocity of 4 ft/sec and there is
no damping, set up a initial value problem whose solution will give an equation of the
motion of the mass + spring.

2. (#9, Sec. 3.8) A mass of 20 g stretches a spring 5 cm. Suppose that the mass is also
attached to a viscous damper with a damping constant of 400 dyne-sec/cm. If the
mass is pulled down an additional 2 cm and then released, set up an initial value
problem to model the motion of the mass + spring.

Review Guide for Exam 3, Page 1 of 6

3. Suppose the solution of a vibrating model (unforced) is u (t ) 2 cos 4t 2 sin 4t .
a) Describe the type of motion of the system.

b) Put the solution in the amplitude-phase angle form.

c) Identify the period and (circular) frequency of the motion.

d) If the mass attached to the spring is 4 kilograms, what is the spring constant of the
spring?

4. Classify the type of motion of each equation below.

2t 2t
a) u(t ) c1e cos 4t c2 e sin 4t _____________________________

3t 3t
b) u (t ) c1 e c 2 te __________________________________

3t 2t
c) u (t ) c1 e c2 e __________________________________

d) u (t ) c1 cos 2t c 2 sin 2t 1
2 sin 4t ______________________________

5. Suppose a mass-spring-damper system is modeled by u ' ' 9u ' 14u 1 2 sin t , u(0) = 0,
u (0) = 1. If the specific solution is u(t ) .18e 2t .2e 7 t .03sin t .02 cos t ,
identify the steady-state portion of the solution and rewrite it in amplitude-phase
angle form.

Review Guide for Exam 3, Page 2 of 6

6. a) Convert f (t ) t 2(t 1)u1 (t ) (t 1)u 2 (t ) u3 (t ) to a piece-wise function and
sketch.

b) Find L(f(t))

dI
7. The current flow of a circuit can be modeled by the equation RI L V (t ) . If R =
dt
2, L = 1, and V(t) = e 3t , use Laplace transforms to find the zero-state output of the
circuit.

Review Guide for Exam 3, Page 3 of 6

8. Use Laplace transforms to find the zero-state output of the mass-damper system
modeled by u ' ' 2u ' u t 3 e t .

9. Find the Laplace or inverse Laplace transforms as indicated.

a) L (3t cos 2t )

b) L (e 3t cos 2t )

1 2
c) L
s 3
2s 2 s

Review Guide for Exam 3, Page 4 of 6

9. continued

t
d) L cos 2 d
0

t
3t
e) L e cos 2 d
0

f) L e 3t u 2 (t )

1 1
g) L 1 Evaluate as a convolution.
s 2 s 4

s
h) L 1
s 2
4s 5

2s
e
i) L 1
s2 4s 5

Review Guide for Exam 3, Page 5 of 6

10. Find the Laplace transform of the following periodic function.

Review Guide for Exam 3, Page 6 of 6